Leicester V Leeds at The King Power Stadium : Match Preview

10 August 2013 01:31

Leicester hope to have Zak Whitbread and Ben Marshall back in contention when they begin their home Championship campaign against Leeds on Sunday.

Defender Whitbread was carried off on a stretcher early on in the opening game of the season at Middlesbrough following a blow to the head, while winger Marshall was ruled out of the midweek Capital One Cup win at Wycombe through illness.

Last season's leading scorer David Nugent is nearer full fitness and could start following 30 minutes as asubstitute at Boro and an hour as a starter against Wycombe.

New defensive addition Ignasi Miquel, who arrived from Arsenal on Friday on a season-long loan, is also hoping to go straight into manager Nigel Pearson's squad.

The Jamaica international has served a three-game ban that was carried over from last season following his dismissal against Brighton in the final home game and is hoping to feature.

Defender Stephen Warnock could also return after missing the midweek Capital One Cup win over Chesterfield due to a knock, while El-Hadji Diouf is closing in on his first appearance of the season after recovering from an infected shin.

Manager Brian McDermott made seven changes on Tuesday night and is expected to recall the likes of Ross McCormack, Luke Varney, Luke Murphy, Lee Peltier and Noel Hunt to his starting line-up.